Chillin' (Force MDs album) explained
| Chillin' |
| Type: | studio |
| Artist: | Force MDs |
| Cover: | Chillin' (Force MDs album).jpg |
| Released: | December 15, 1985 |
| Studio: | Tommy Boy, Unique Recording, and Quadrasonic (New York City, New York)- Flyte Tyme (Minneapolis, Minnesota)
|
| Genre: | Hip hop, pop, R&B |
| Label: | Tommy Boy[1] |
| Producer: | Robin Halpin (tracks 1-4, 7, 8; additional production on track 6)
|
| Prev Title: | Love Letters |
| Prev Year: | 1984 |
| Next Title: | Touch and Go |
| Next Year: | 1987 |
Chillin' is an album by the American R&B vocal group Force MDs. The hit single "Tender Love" also appears on the soundtrack to Krush Groove.[1]
The album peaked at No. 69 on the Billboard 200.[2]
Production
The album was mostly produced by Tommy Boy house producer Robin Halpin, with the exception of two tracks. "Tender Love" was written by the production duo of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.[3] [4] The album marked a shift in the group's sound, downplaying the rap songs in favor of more ballads.[5] "Force MD's Meet the Fat Boys" is set to the theme song to Gilligan's Island.[6]
Critical reception
Trouser Press wrote: "From the ridiculous rap of 'Force M.D.’s Meet the Fat Boys' (partially sung to the melody of 'Gilligan’s Island' and guest-starring the tubby three) to the catchy, falsetto-over-scratch-beats title track, the versatile M.D.’s mix credible urban savvy with enough smooth showbiz to please hard beatboys and mature soul fans alike."[7] The Washington Post thought that "the Force M.D.'s give their intoxicating harmonies the believable edge of impatient desires and streetwise arrangements."[8]
The Los Angeles Times opined: "More comfortable with dreamy balladry than razor-edged rapping, the M.D.'s may not look as harmless as New Edition, but its love songs are equally sweet."[9] The Seattle Times praised the group's "smooth, polished sound," and called "One Plus One" "a high-powered tune influenced by [the] Jackson Five."[10]
AllMusic declared that the group "quietly reinvented quiet storm/R&B for the '80s with their doo wop-heavy 'Tender Love'."
Personnel
Force MDs
- Jesse D (Jesse Daniels)
- Antoine "T.C.D." Lundy
- Stevie D (Steven Lundy)
- Charles "Mercury" Nelson
- Trisco Pearson
Musicians
- Robin Halpin – keyboards (1-4, 7, 8), synthesizers (1-4), arrangements (1-4, 7, 8), string arrangements (2)
- Vince Madison - keyboards (1-4, 7, 8), synthesizers (1-4, 7, 8), arrangements (4)
- John "M.J." Hickman – keyboards (5)
- Jimmy Jam – acoustic piano and keyboards [uncredited] (6)[11]
- Paul Pesco – guitars (1, 3, 4, 7), drum programming (1, 3, 7), additional drum programming (8)
- Skip McDonald – guitars (2)
- Doug Wimbish – bass (2)
- Keith LeBlanc – drums (2)
- Eric Calvi – drum programming (3, 4, 8), arrangements (4)
- Bashiri Johnson – percussion (1, 3, 4, 7)
- The Fat Boys – vocals (5)
Production
- Tom Silverman – executive producer
- Force MDs – BGV arrangements (1-4, 6-8)
- Eric Calvi – engineer (1-4, 7, 8), editing (1, 3, 4, 6, 7), recording (5), mix engineer (5, 6), mixing (5), creative consultant
- Tom Lord-Alge – mix engineer (1-3, 7, 8)
- Robin Halpin – mixing (1-4, 7, 8), editing (1, 3, 4, 7), remixing (6), overdubs (6)
- Joey Gardner – mixing (5), remixing (6), editing (6)
- Bruce Miller – second engineer (2, 4)
- Jon Smith – editing (8)
- Herb Powers Jr. – mastering at Frankford/Wayne Mastering Labs (New York, NY)
- Monica Lynch – art direction
- Doug Rowell – photography
Notes and References
- Tommy Boy-Warners Deal Bears First Fruit. Billboard. April 5, 1986. Nielsen Business Media, Inc.. Google Books.
- Book: Whitburn . Joel . Top Pop Albums . 2010 . Record Research . 284 . 7th.
- Web site: Force M.D.'s | Biography & History. AllMusic.
- News: Hiltbrand . David . Young Singers, Old-Fashioned Soul . The Philadelphia Inquirer . 26 Sep 1987 . C8.
- News: Catlin . Roger . 3rd Album Quirky but Strong Violent Femmes Bounces Back . Omaha World-Herald . February 23, 1986 . Entertainment . 1.
- News: Gingold . Dave . Force's hip-hop doo-wop . Santa Cruz Sentinel . 14 Feb 1986 . Spotlight . 12.
- Web site: Force M.D.'s . Trouser Press . 14 July 2021.
- News: Has Success Spoiled New Edition? . The Washington Post . 14 July 2021.
- News: Johnson . Connie . Spring Album Roundup: Silk from the Streets . Los Angeles Times . 23 Mar 1986 . Calendar . 60.
- News: MacDonald . Patrick . Boston Quartet Brings Hit Sound to Tacoma . The Seattle Times . September 5, 1986 . Tempo . 5.
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqzqEBfZQIM&t=3s "The Story behind the song "Tender Love"
